Serialized 【 Minor Good Illustrated] VOL.4 A.P.C. by music lovers, for music lovers.

A classic product of a royal brand is still good. They have a long history, reliable specifications, and never get boring no matter how old they get. However, this is a series of articles for those who are a little bit gullible. We will introduce some of the brand's lesser-known, yet very appealing products. In this fourth installment, we introduce a minor good from "A.P.S.".

Photo_Arata Suzuki
Styling_So Matsukawa
Text&Edit_Yuri Sudo

Just as filmmaker Jim Jarmusch put music to Man Ray's short films, I am attracted to people who have their own axes to grind and yet are stepping into other genres.

“A.P.C.Jean Touitou, designer of the "SECTION MUSICALE" brand, established "SECTION MUSICALE" in 1999, and has also focused on music production. Aiming to fuse fashion and music, he built a recording studio on Rue Madame in Paris, where the brand's headquarters are located, and has been inviting his musician friends for sessions for over 30 years.

The items introduced here are born from Jean's hobbies.

CANADA
¥5,500

SECTION MUSICALE" has produced 33 albums so far. Among them, here is the analog record "Canada," released in December 2022. It was inspired by a trip to Tunisia, Jean's homeland.

The album contains three songs, the first of which, "Canada," evokes memories of Jean's adolescence. Singer/songwriter Bryan Adams participated in the arrangement. The story of how it was completed is also interesting. He tried to imitate Jimi Hendrix's bass line but made a mistake, and from there he created a song with silly ideas and rhymes. The idea of making use of coincidence as it is is something that can only be done through music.

The second song is a dub version of the first, and the third is a family memory song about a cemetery. 12-string guitar creates a mystical atmosphere.

TOKYO BLUES
¥3,300

This album, released in 2021, is one of the albums from 1999-2000, when "A.P.C. Daikanyama Homme" was undergoing floor expansion. Luxurious or not, it was photographed by Takashi Homma. All the songs in the album have a calm melody like cloudy skies in Tokyo, yet the sound is light.

TRIBUTE TO SUN RA," the only song not written by Jean, was recorded in 1992 at bassist and music producer Bill Laswell's Brooklyn studio and is taken from the album THINK ABOUT BROOKLYN The album is an excerpt from the album "THINK ABOUT BROOKLYN," produced by A.P. SAY. In addition to Jean, F. Robert Lloyd and others participated on guitar, and legendary free jazz guitarist Sonny Sherlock played on the album, resulting in a top-notch lineup.

The brand's relationship with Japan goes back a long way: the first store outside of Japan opened in Daikanyama in 1991, and the denim fabric has been made in Japan since the production of the first model. This means that Jean's love for Japan is very strong.

MUSIQUE T-shirt
22,000 yen

Jean has always attempted to fuse fashion and music, and in 2022, when he presented his 35th anniversary collection, he surprised the audience by playing the guitar on stage himself.

To follow this trend, "MUSIQUE CAPSULE COLLECTION" has recently been released. The collection includes items that focus on the brand's roots, including music, and we would like to start with T-shirts.

The graphic pick on the front is a guitar pick from "A.P.S." that was sold in the past. They were sold at the concept store "Magasin Général" (now closed), which used to carry the brand's select sundries. The print has a moderately faded look, and you would want to wear it appropriately like old clothes.

LOU VINYL Tote bag
18,700 yen

Also one tote bag from "MUSIQUE CAPSULE COLLECTION". The vinyl version of "A.P.C. Tracks Vol. 1," released from the "SECTION MUSICALE" mentioned at the beginning of this article, was used as the graphic.

Incidentally, the album was produced by Bill Laswell and was inspired by free and abstract theatrical music for a fictional movie. In addition to blues and hip-hop, the album includes a variety of mellow songs perfect for relaxation.

Although we have noted her affinity for music here, Jean is actually highly interested in other arts. She has formed a partnership with Wes Anderson's film "Fantastic Mr. Fox" and founded A.P.E., a free and creative pre-school for boys and girls.

Of course, the clothes of "A.P.S." are wonderful, but this kind of approach to art is something I would like to continue to follow.

Location note: The room was originally occupied by the photographer. Hot in summer and cold in winter.